A senior teacher at the centre of an alleged plot by religious hard-liners to seize control of governing bodies has admitted that there was a campaign to install Muslims in leading roles at schools in Birmingham.

Nearly 20 schools in the city are currently being investigated over claims that male and female pupils were segregated, sex education banned and extremist clerics praised in assemblies.

But one of the teachers said that the controversial move - dubbed the Trojan Horse - was aimed at raising attainment levels of Muslim pupils after years of underachievement.

Speaking anonymously to Channel 4 News on Sunday night, the teacher admitted there was a campaign to assert more Muslim influence in schools, describing it as “a very positive thing”.

He said: “This is about the proportion of representation and leadership on boards of schools that serve predominantly Muslim children.